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“That’s not very nice,” Eli said.
“Neither is dragging me here or reading my mind.”
“Yes, but both are wildly entertaining.”
Fantastic. That was just what I wanted to be. Entertaining.
He leaned closer to me. “Just so you’re aware, I dragged you here to ensure Cosette would show up with the necessary number of fey for the spell. If I’d come alone, they were more likely to put up a fight, and Cosette wasn’t going to get her queen to agree to it without some proof that the shit has hit the fan. Me being here does exactly that.”
Oh. That made so much more sense.
“Looks like one of your new werewolf friends has shown up.” A figure behind Cosette rose from her chair, but I couldn’t quite make her out. “Come here.”
I felt the pull. It was stronger than anything I’d ever felt before—at least ten times stronger than the power that Mr. Dawson had. My wolf rose up and pushed the order back. I was breathing hard as I concentrated on staying where I was.
Chris was right. He could never come here. If it’d taken that much energy for me to ignore one simple order, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like for him.
The woman who had sent the order came to stand next to Cosette. Her long, pin-straight hair was lighter than Cosette’s, glowing a bright golden color, but they were the same height and held themselves the same way. This had to be Cosette’s mom, the Queen of the Lunar Court.
“Come. Here.” Costte’s mother pushed a lot more power the command. My body shook with tension as I fought against the urge to take a step closer.
I ignored the bead of sweat rolling down my forehead. “I’d love to come forward and meet you, but I won’t be compelled by an order.”
“Interesting. I’ll make it a request then.”
That was good with me. I started walking toward her, taking even steps. Something told me every move I made was being judged right now. Slipping or tripping was not an option. “I apologize for interrupting your meeting. I know we weren’t invited but—”
“I’m sure that was Eli’s doing.”
“Yes, ma’am.” There was some grumbling up on the stage and I wondered if I’d done something wrong.
Cosette’s mom was wearing an elegant white suit. The pants were loose, but not too loose, and the jacket was perfectly fitted to her body. She didn’t have a shirt under it and the V-neck created by the buttoned up jacket showed just enough skin, but not too much. A simple ring of gold circled her head. The woman was an example of perfection. Sleek and classy and cool. When I grew up, I wanted to be like her, but that wouldn’t happen. I was too at home in my yoga pants and messy bun.
“It’s nice to meet one of Cosette’s friends. You’ve created quite the stir,” she said as she tucked her hands into her pants pockets.
I stopped at the bottom of the stage. Cosette and her mother came to stand at the edge, looking down at me. “Not on purpose, but it seems to have followed me around.”
“And it seems as if the stir will continue to get worse. Cosette is requesting that I let her leave
with three others. I shouldn’t have even allowed her to leave, let alone drag along anyone with her, but she’s making a persuasive case.” The Queen’s gaze slid to Cosette. “Or she was until she popped out of here with all her guards.” She turned to Eli. “Are you coming to stay for a while?”
He grinned up at her. “I don’t think you’d like that very much, cousin.” He gave Cosette a wink.
“I’m not your cousin,” the queen said.
“No. Then what should I call you? Cosette and I are related.”
Related? I looked to Cosette and she shrugged. I wasn’t sure if she meant that as a confirmation or not, but when I got a second, I was definitely going to ask.
“Calling her a relation is a stretch at best,” the queen said. “But your point is made.”
If I hadn’t been watching her so closely, I would’ve missed the way the queen’s fists tightened for a fraction of a second before she relaxed them again.
“Is it true?” The queen asked.
I’d been so busy looking from Eli to Cosette to the queen and back again, that I didn’t realize everyone was waiting for me to say something. “Is what true?”
“That if I don’t allow this, the veil between the worlds will break.”
